I’ve felt that same frustration—every time we found a place in our range, it seemed like some faceless LLC swooped in with a cash offer. I agree, banning corporate buyers might help a bit, but it won’t magically create more homes. Even without the big investors, there’s still just not enough inventory. It’s weird seeing people stretch so far just to compete, too. The whole system feels stacked against regular buyers, but I’m honestly not sure this kind of ban would fix the root problem. Maybe it’d just slow things down or push investors somewhere else.
Honestly, I get why folks are cheering the idea of banning corporate buyers—nobody likes getting outbid by a nameless LLC with bottomless pockets. But I’ve gotta say, it’s not just the big guys making things tough. Even smaller investors like me are feeling the squeeze. There just aren’t enough homes to go around, and that’s the real kicker.
I’ve seen friends try to buy their first place and get priced out, not because of Wall Street, but because everyone’s fighting over the same handful of listings. If you ban corporate buyers, sure, maybe it takes a little pressure off, but unless there’s more actual housing, we’re still stuck in the same boat. Plus, investors (big or small) often buy the places that need work—stuff regular buyers don’t always want to touch.
Feels like we’re treating the symptom, not the disease. I’m all for leveling the playing field, but if we don’t actually build more homes, we’re just rearranging the deck chairs...
Been through this myself—bought my first place back in 2012, and even then, it felt like a scramble. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- When I was house hunting, it wasn’t just big companies bidding. Regular folks, flippers, and even retirees looking for rentals were all in the mix.
- After moving in, half my street was being renovated by small-time investors. Some of those homes were in rough shape—honestly, I wouldn’t have touched them as a first-timer.
- Even if you ban the big players, demand’s still way higher than supply. Unless more homes get built, prices won’t really budge much.
- I get the frustration, but I’d be nervous about quick fixes that don’t address the root problem. Seen too many policies with good intentions backfire.
Feels like we need more actual houses, not just new rules.
